New book on geoethics just printed!

We are proud to inform that a new great book on geoethics (20 chapters, 34 authors) has been just printed:

Di Capua G., Bobrowsky P.T., Kieffer S.W. and Palinkas C. (2021). Geoethics: Status and Future Perspectives. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 508, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP508.

This is the second volume focused on geoethics published by the Geological Society of London. This is a significant step forward in which authors address the maturation of geoethics. The field of geoethics is now ready to be introduced outside the geoscience community as a logical platform for global ethics that addresses anthropogenic changes. Geoethics has a distinction in the geoscientific community for discussing ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience knowledge, research, practice, education and communication. This provides a common ground for confronting ideas, experiences and proposals on how geosciences can supply additional service to society in order to improve the way humans interact responsibly with the Earth system. This book provides new messages to geoscientists, social scientists, intellectuals, law- and decision-makers, and laypeople. Motivations and actions for facing global anthropogenic changes and their intense impacts on the planet need to be governed by an ethical framework capable of merging a solid conceptual structure with pragmatic approaches based on geoscientific knowledge. This philosophy defines geoethics.

This book is dedicated to Jan Boon.

Chapters:

DI CAPUA G., BOBROWSKY P.T., KIEFFER S.W. AND PALINKAS C.

Introduction: geoethics goes beyond the geoscience profession

(open access)

PEPPOLONI, S. AND DI CAPUA, G.

Geoethics as global ethics to face grand challenges for humanity

BOHLE, M. 

Geo-societal sense-making

KEANE, C.M. AND ASHER, P.

Addressing the geoethics skills gap through co-curricular approaches

CRONIN, V.S.

Geoethics as a common thread that can bind a geoscience department together

MOGK, D.W. 

The intersection of geoethics and diversity in the geosciences

BONHAM, O. AND WALDIE, A. 

Geoscience, ethics and enforcement

DAWSON, L.A., DI MAGGIO, R.M., MCKINLEY, J., DI CAPUA, G., PEPPOLONI, S. AND PRINGLE, J. 

A proposal for a white paper on geoethics in forensic geology

FERNÁNDEZ-FUENTES, I., CORREIA, V. AND NEUMANN, M. 

The importance of professional regulation of geoscientists and their role in a fast-changing world

OVADIA, D.C. AND O’CONNOR, E.A. 

International geoscience cooperation – fair and equitable?

BOON, J. 

Sociology for mineral exploration

BILHAM, N. 

Responsible mining and responsible sourcing of minerals: opportunities and challenges for cooperation across value chains

MUDD, G.M. 

Sustainable/responsible mining and ethical issues related to the sustainable development goals

GROENFELDT, D. 

Ethical considerations in managing the hydrosphere: an overview of water ethics

BELLAUBI, F. AND ARASA, A. 

Geoethics in groundwater management: the geoethical dilemma in la galera aquifer

OBONI, F. AND OBONI, C.H. 

Holistic geoethical slopes’ portfolio risk assessment

CERASE, A. 

From ‘good’ intuitions to principled practices and beyond: ethical issues in risk communication

STEWART, I.S. AND HURTH, V. 

Selling Planet Earth: re-purposing geoscience communications

WUEBBLES, D.J. 

Ethics in Climate Change: A Climate Scientist’s Perspective

MCLEAN, M.R. 

Reaching out from Earth to the stars

A great thank to all the reviewers of the book chapters:

Ruth Allington, Beth Bartel, Martin Bohle, Jan Boon, Edoardo Borgomeo, Daniela Di Bucci, Vincent S. Cronin, Erle Ellis, Robert Frodeman, Armin Grunwald, Linda Gundersen, Fausto Guzzetti, Jill L. Karsten, Christopher Keane, Helio A. Lazarim, Eduardo Marone, Ellen Pletcher Metzger, David W. Mogk, David Craig Ovadia, Roberto Lencina, Silvia Peppoloni, Rika Preiser, Ortwin Renn and Mike Stephenson.

This book on the GSL (Lyell Collection) website:

https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/508/1 

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Other books on geoethics in the IAPG website:

https://www.geoethics.org/books-on-geoethics

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

New article published in the special issue on geoethics with the journal Sustainability

We are glad to inform that the a new paper has been published in the special issue "New Advances on Geoethics and Sustainable Development" of the journal Sustainability. The guest editors of this special issue are Silvia Peppoloni and Giuseppe Di Capua.

The paper published is entitled "The Need for Geoethical Awareness: The Importance of Geoenvironmental Education in Geoheritage Understanding in the Case of Meteora Geomorphes, Greece" and authored by Efthymios Georgousis, Socrates Savelides, Spyros Mosios, Maximos-Vasileios Holokolos, and Hara Drinia.

The article can be downloaded here:

https://f420cbad-ec08-4c39-902f-b0e5afecb44a.filesusr.com/ugd/5195a5_fa72234c07bd41ad80f6cb4fc390c91a.pdf?index=true

Abstract:

"The purpose of this article is to explore the young generation’s geocultural consciousness. The research uses the case of Meteora Geomorphes, which have been proposed as a geological heritage site and are known to students for aesthetic, cultural and religious reasons. The sample of the research consisted of third grade Junior High school (Gymnasium) pupils, who have been taught Geography–Geology courses in previous classes, and students from departments of the University of Thessaly, Central Greece, wherein their subjects are taught cultural heritage courses. The data collection was conducted through a structured questionnaire that examines their knowledge, values, geoethical attitudes, behaviors and beliefs about geocultural heritage understanding. The result of the research shows the lack of understanding of the geological heritage in relation to cultural heritage and of the sense of responsibility for the environment and a code of ethics for protection and conservation. The need for strategic educational planning of geoeducation in school practice with the integration of geoheritage in the theme of environmental education (geoenvironmental education) is obvious."

The paper can be cited as follows:

Georgousis E., Savelides S., Mosios S., Holokolos M.-V., and Drinia H. (2021). The Need for Geoethical Awareness: The Importance of Geoenvironmental Education in Geoheritage Understanding in the Case of Meteora Geomorphes, Greece. Sustainability, 13(12), 6626, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126626. 

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Other publications on geoethics in the IAPG website:

https://www.geoethics.org/publications

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

Geological Hazards and Geoethics in Argentina

Elizabeth Rovere and Roberto Violante (IAPGeoethics-Argentina coordinators) co-organize the Symposium S3 "Geological Hazards and Geoethics" (Peligros Geológicos y Geoética) at the XXI Argentinian Geological Congress (Congreso Geológico Argentino), that will be held in virtual format in March 2021. Initially the congress was to take place in Puerto Madryn, Chubut (Argentina).

Silvia Peppoloni (IAPG Secretary General) and Giuseppe Di Capua (IAPG Treasurer) will give invited talks on geoethics. 

This symposium is sponsored by IAPGeoethics-Argentina.

Download more information about the Symposium S3 (in Spanish):

https://f420cbad-ec08-4c39-902f-b0e5afecb44a.filesusr.com/ugd/5195a5_843db4468e8542d9bb3d601c5c201ac9.pdf?index=true

Congress website: 

http://www.congresogeologico.org.ar/

#geoethics #geoética #IAPG #Argentina

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

IAPG report in included in the 2020 Annual Report of the IUGS

Another great news!

We are proud to inform that the IAPG was invited to contribute to the 2020 Annual Report of the International Union of Geological Sciences - IUGS (https://www.iugs.org/). We wish to thank IUGS for this opportunity.

This is the result of the great efforts that IAPG community is doing to develop and promote geoethics worldwide.

The IAPG is an affiliated organization of the IUGS from 2013.

Download the 2020 Annual Report of the IUGS and read the IAPG report from page 73 to page76:

https://98ca4554-1361-4fb1-a4d8-a1bb16d032e6.filesusr.com/ugd/f1fc07_ca038c357c7a41e7914ab9ff35e90118.pdf?index=true

#geoethics #geoética #IAPG #IUGS

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

Geoethics included into a very important document on biodiversity and climate change

Great news!

Geoethics was included into the “Scientific Outcome of the IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop on biodiversity and climate change” (IPBES: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

This document can be downloaded here:

https://www.ipbes.net/sites/default/files/2021-06/2021_IPCC-IPBES_scientific_outcome_20210612.pdf

In the Section 4.2 "Human and Social Dimensions" (page 49) you can read the following sentences, that include also the definition of geoethics by IAPG:

"Ethical behaviour with respect to nature (“geoethics”) is at the core of several discussions regarding adaptation. The values which underpin appropriate behaviours and practices wherever human activities interact with the Earth system play an important role in the awareness of society regarding problems with biodiversity and NCP. Ethical, social, and cultural implications of both scientific knowledge and humankind’s role as an active geological force on the planet and the ethical responsibility that this implies need to be addressed in every plan of action (Bobrowsky et al., 2017). This includes equity issues linked to biodiversity related interventions. These are often not distributionally neutral and have equity implications both within and between generations." 

The paper on geoethics cited in the document is:

Bobrowsky, P., Cronin, V. S., Di Capua, G., Kieffer, S. W., & Peppoloni, S. (2017). The emerging field of geoethics. Sci. Integr. Ethics Geosci, 73, 175.

This paper can be read here:

https://f420cbad-ec08-4c39-902f-b0e5afecb44a.filesusr.com/ugd/5195a5_2d21386d650f4f418cb05d0d7dad395c.pdf

A detailed definition of geoethics is provided in:

Di Capua G. and Peppoloni S. (2019). Defining geoethics. Website of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics, http://www.geoethics.org/definition.

#geoethics #geoética #biodiversity #climatechange #IAPG #IPBES #IPCC

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

IAPG-Peru has a new coordinator

IAPG-Peru logo

Pedro Isique (photo above) is the new coordinator of IAPG-Peru from 1 June 2021. "Have a good work!" Pedro.

Pedro is a geologist with experience in applied Geology, Environmental Geology, Environmental vulnerability of water sources, Quarry Research and sources of construction materials. He graduated as a geologist from the University of San Marcos-Lima. He got a Msc. Environmental Management at the Federico Villareal University, a Diploma in Geotechnics USAT-University of Valencia. He was Leadership Course at the UPC-Harvard University, Professor at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Professor at the Universidad San Martín de Porres, Geologist of the Geology Division of the Ministry of Transport – Peru. Finally, he is an International Consultant in applied geology and groundwater vulnerability.

He worked in all regions of Peru, as well as in Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Angola (Africa).

He has also been an Advisor for the ministerial office of the Ministry of Transport, former President of the Peruvian Association of Geological Engineering, former Director of the Peruvian Consulting Association, former Director of the Geological Society of Peru. Currently, he is President of the XX Peruvian Congress of Geology (2021).

Pedro takes over from Carlos Toledo Gutierrez in chairing the IAPG-Peru section.

IAPG wishes to thank Carlos for the excellent job he has done in the last 2 years, strengthening the IAPG-Peru's position as the leading group actively promoting geoethics in South America.

IAPG has 32 national sections:
https://www.geoethics.org/sections

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics: 
https://www.geoethics.org

A planet of geodiversity

by Silvia Peppoloni*

This article was published in ReWriters Magazine, in Italian and English:

https://rewriters.it/sta-per-arrivare-la-giornata-internazionale-della-geodiversita/

* Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome (Italy); Secretary General of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics; Councillor of the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences; Member of the Ethical Board of ICOS - Intergrated Carbon Observation System; Coordinator of IAPG-Italy; Member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Geological Society. Email: silvia.peppoloni@ingv.it

Silvia Peppoloni

Great news for our planet! The goal of establishing the International Day of Geodiversity seems almost achieved.

On April 16, 2021, the proposal to dedicate an international day to the celebration of the importance of geodiversity passed what could be considered its most difficult test, as it was unanimously approved within one of the commissions of the Executive Committee of the UNESCO. More than 70 countries spread across all continents have co-sponsored this proposal, as well as numerous international geoscience and nature conservation organizations. In all likelihood, the first international day of geodiversity will take place on October 6, 2022.

Geodiversity is the foundation of biodiversity and of every socio-ecological system on the planet, but for most people, from the general public to the political decision-maker, its value and all its implications remain unknown. This is where the proponents of this international day started from: the urgency of increasing knowledge on geodiversity, promoting global education and awareness of its value, as well as the value of geosciences, disciplines that study the forms and processes of the Earth. But let’s see in detail what geodiversity is. Its official definition was formulated by ProGEO, the European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage.

But what is geodiversity?

Geodiversity includes all non-living parts of nature: minerals, rocks, fossils, soils, sediments, soil forms, as well as the geological and morphogenetic processes that occur on Earth and the hydrological elements that characterize it, such as rivers and lakes.

Geodiversity has been a long neglected concept, while the role it plays in our lives, society and the environment as a whole is of the utmost importance. The elements that constitute it are an irreplaceable substratum of our societies, with undoubted advantages for many aspects of human life: from the land we cultivate, to the natural resources with which we build our settlements, to the aesthetic enjoyment of the landscapes in which we are immersed. The same landscapes, which inspire art, support tourism and strengthen our bond with the territory, are a product of geodiversity. The individual components of geodiversity tell us the history of the Earth, its evolution in deep time, its climatic changes and geological risks.

The diversity of geological resources plays an essential role in the economic and social development of humanity. When used with prudence and foresight, mineral resources create economic wealth and jobs. Rocks and geological processes have a fundamental role in regulating our environment, just think of the balancing function they exert on the water flow of watercourses, closely linked to the possibility that waters can infiltrate and be hosted by the rocks of the subsoil. Furthermore, rocks and sediments play a crucial role in filtering polluted surface waters before they reach an aquifer, as well as in the formation of soils for agricultural uses.

The geological characteristics of places have always influenced their evolution, also favouring or hindering the possibilities for development and progress of the human communities that live there. Since its appearance on Earth, the human being is so to speak "Homo geologicus": he/she lives in caves dug into the rock, works obsidian to obtain tools indispensable for his/her survival, uses the rocky walls as pictorial surfaces for first artistic manifestations. And again: he/she transports, raises and aligns huge stones, uses them to create alignments that are still indecipherable today, perhaps in response to his/her first spiritual calls; and finally he/she venerates as deities geological and morphological elements of the landscape such as volcanoes, rivers, springs. Even today the urban fabric of our villages, the development of productive activities, the habits of life and the very character of the populations often reflect the conditioning of the geological specificity of that territory, the conditioning of geodiversity.

It is no coincidence that some authors have demonstrated with scientific expertise and with captivating style how Rome has been able to develop and become the city caput mundi thanks to its truly unique territorial and natural features (Funiciello et al., The seven hills of Rome: a geological tour of the eternal city, 2006). The presence of volcanic soils from which to obtain excellent building materials, the abundance of groundwater and springs of excellent quality, the proximity to a navigable watercourse such as the Tiber river, the hilly morphology that offered relief sites to defend against enemies and to stay away from the unhealthy conditions of the most depressed areas, and many other geographical, geological and morphological aspects, determined its rise to the fore in history. And on closer inspection, Rome is not the only place where geodiversity and historical events are intimately connected. Everywhere the combination of the available geo-resources, of the geological processes and of the geo-risks present in a territory is intertwined with the development of local civilizations.

After all, geological diversity always sets the starting conditions for the evolution of a place. Geodiversity is in turn the product of a continuous evolution that took place in space and time, which involved and continues to influence not only physical but also anthropological aspects of the territory, often becoming an integral part of the identity of a place and its inhabitants. Thus for some human communities it becomes natural to identify with the colours of their own land. Ostuni, in southern Italy, is “the white city” for the extraordinary brightness of the white limestone on which it is built and its inhabitants perceive that glow as an integral part of their life. Petra, in Jordan, goes down in history as “the pink city of the Middle East” thanks to its paleozoic polychrome sandstones. Civita di Bagnoregio, in central Italy (in the picture), owes its sad name of “dying city” to the continuous demolition of its slopes by landslides.

Safeguarding the environment and respecting geodiversity, as well as biodiversity, are the basis of a modern ecological sensitivity, which can also be considered the result of a historical process of moral development. In 2021, albeit with a delay of a few decades, we are ready to recognize the full dignity of geodiversity. This is a way to grasp in the totality of human experiences and knowledge that value of diversity that characterizes a renewed awareness of the complexity of the world.

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Other articles published in the IAPG Blog:

http://www.geoethics.org/articles-from-iapg-blog

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics

http://www.geoethics.org

Vacancy: Board of Directors, Geology in the Public Interest

Geology in the Public Interest (GPI), a 501c3 nonprofit based near Seattle, Washington, partner organizations of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics, announces a search to fill two vacancies on its Board of Directors.  This is an unpaid volunteer position that requires an appreciation of the impact of science in advancing resilience and sustainability as well as a desire to fulfill the mission of GPI (https://www.publicgeology.org/). You do not have to be a scientist, but special attention will be given to those familiar with fundraising and who can assist with grant applications.  Directors serve a term of two years unless extended. Residence in the United States is not mandatory. Board business is currently conducted quarterly via Zoom calls and email communications. If interested, email gwessel(at)publicgeology.org. We will reply with a short questionnaire regarding your interests and capabilities. A complete application will include your response to the questionnaire and a copy of your résumé or C.V. A follow-up Zoom interview will complete the selection process. Deadline for complete applications is June 30, 2021.

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IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics
https://www.geoethics.org

Minigeology interviewed Peter Bobrowsky on geoethics

Peter Bobrowsky

Peter Bobrowsky (IAPG Continental Coordinator for North America) was interviewed by Daniel Minisini (Minigeology).

Here the link to the video recording on YouTube of the full interview to Peter Bobrowsky:

https://youtu.be/jf4RM8YGa8Y

This is the trailer of the interview:

https://youtu.be/YVwRarLI6AY

Daniel Minisini

Peter discussed on activities of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics (https://www.geoethics.org) and about important ethical issues related to Earth sciences.

Minigeology is a square where you meet protagonists and other characters related to Geology. Daniel Minisini interviews them to uncover their mindset, discover how they approach a problem, their work, life, and then he shares with the community. His interviews help geologists to understand the relationships of Geology with other scientific disciplines and with different aspects of life. He dedicates these stories to listeners that have the curiosity and the patience to listen. Minigeology is informal, unedited and spontaneous, but full of content and dedicated to top notch geologists and institutions dedicated to geology.

Here some more info:

https://earthscience.rice.edu/minigeology/

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YouTube channel of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics:

https://www.youtube.com/user/iapgeoethics/videos

IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics:

https://www.geoethics.org